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Post mastectomy exercises

jjchoccy
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Hi! I'm two weeks post single mastectomy (no reconstruction) and still in a lot of pain, still having to take codeine for it. My breast nurse said when it comes to the exercises just do what I can and what is comfortable but I feel like I'm really behind where I should be. I have just tried to do the exercises for week two (considering I am at the end of week 2 now!) and I can barely do them at all. My chest muscle is so so tight, my armpit is so sore I have to limit my arm movement to stop it rubbing (there's nothing there so I think that must be nerve endings from the node biopsy?) and the fluid build up makes lying flat very uncomfortable.
How was everyone else's recovery in comparison? 

Getting fed up, thought I'd be up and about much more than I am by now xxx

  • Hello jjchoccy

    I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling with recovery following your recent surgery. It's understandable that you're feeling frustrated. 

    It can be really easy to put pressure on ourselves to meet milestones during recovery and to feel that we are progressing at the correct rate. It can help to bear in mind that the exercises you've been given are a suggested timescale and everyone's experience will be different particularly if you're struggling with pain and fluid buildup. 

    Two weeks can feel like an eternity but in reality, it is quite a short time frame. Keep doing what you can and when you go for your next appointment with the breast care nurse or Consultant, if you feel that things really aren't progressing then you can discuss this with them. It may be that in a few weeks, things are improved but if they aren't then the team can look at arranging for you to see a physio for some further advice and support. 

    As you're living without reconstruction, I wanted to let you know about an organisation called Flat Friends which supports women who have had a single or double mastectomy without reconstruction. They have some very active support groups and I know you will be able to connect with other women who have been through similar experiences for some further support and advice. 

    I wish you well with the rest of your recovery jjchoccy. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator 

  • Offline

     

    Hi Jjchoccy,

    I am sorry to hear that you are still in pain post surgery. Our moderator, Jenn, is right. This is still very early days. While it is important to do your exercises as soon as you can, it can take some of us a little longer to be able to do them than others. Do you have a lot of fluid build up? Our care teams usually like to leave this to disperse naturally, but if this is causing you a lot of bother, please mention it to your breast care nurse.

    I had a double mastectomy 13 years ago and I didn't have reconstruction. I manage fairly well with an assortment of prostheses for different activities. I had a lot of build up after surgery and had to have the fluid drained off a few times. This eased the pain considerably, but this can cause the fluid to build up more quickly, which is why the care teams are reluctant to do it, unless absolutely necessar. For all that you say that "there is nothing there", you have had a lot of breast tissue removed and you will be building up scar tissue, which can case tightening too.

    I hope that this settles for you soon, but I think that patience is the key.

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hello, I recently found a lump in my left breast.  My doctor called me in the same day and referred me to hospital.  Ocbviously the doctors explained to me fully what the procedure would be having a Mastectomy.  2 weeks later I was admitted to surgery to have the breast removed. The operation was at 11am March 20th and I was back home the same day.  Operation success, although the surgeon removed 20 lymph nodes and 19 of them were cancer!  I have this problem of fluid retention and have had it drained 3 times.  The hospital said it might come back, but it was such a relief to get it drained.  I'm awaiting radiation and being put on a drug trial.  The cancer has gone but the ongoing treatment is a deterrent to stop is coming back.  I know it will be a long recovery road but I'm trying to think positive.  I do have good days and bad days but just relieved the cancer was removed.  My question really is how long will it take for this fluid build up to stop?   It can be very uncomfortable.  I do light exercises of my arm several times a day!  Has anyone else in this forum experienced so much fluid retention?

  • Offline

    Hi jjchoccy, just wanted to say that I hope some of the difficult after effects of your surgery are easing a bit - how frustrating! My BC nurse said every little bit of movement helps even if it doesn't feel like it. My underarm where they did the sentinel node removal did feel like someone had stuck a bunch of stinging nettles under it xxx

  • Offline in reply to DiDiHello

    HI DiDiHello,

    A very warm welcome to our forum.

    I am sorry to hear that you are still having prblems with fluid build up following your mastectomy. I had a double mastectomy and had the fluid aspirated from my breast 3 times, at about 3 week intervals. I expect that times may vary between different people, but I think that it took 12  - 16 weeks to feel comfortable. That was 13 years ago, so I cannot remember the time frame exactly.

    I hope that this all settles for you soon. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

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